The use of multi-media motivation in enhancing compliance of hypertensives discovered at a screening operation

Hypertension has been identified as a major public health problem in the United States today and as a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Recent evidence has demonstrated that with effective blood pressure control the morbid and mortal consequences of hypertension can be reduced. The asymptomatic nature of hypertension has hampered its detection and effective treatment. Screening programs for hypertension detection have been hampered in their ability to deliver hypertensives to an effective source of medical care and to achieve effective blood pressure control because of a variety of behavioristic or attitudinal deficiencies. The present study was signed to develop a motivational 'package', using the 'multi-media' approach of advertising to address some of these previously identified motivational defects. This approach was compared to more traditional methods of motivation in order to evaluate its effectiveness in stimulating hypertensives detected at a screening site to seek medical care.